Wide mouth opening military canteen with nbc adapter

ABSTRACT

A military canteen has a wide mouth dimensioned neck or spout for drinking or pouring liquid therefrom, the wide mouth nature allowing for relatively easy service access into the internal cavity of the canteen body. A first flat bottom cap is threadably to the neck for sealing the opening of the neck. A second cap is threadably attached to the neck in place of the first cap, the second cap has an NBC adapter located thereon. A lanyard has a first ring that encircles the neck and is pressed toward shoulders of the canteen body whenever either the first cap or the second cap is attached to the neck. The lanyard has a second ring that either frictionally attaches to a raised portion on a top of the first cap or encircles the NBC adapter of the second cap.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a military canteen that has a widemouth opening that receives both a standard flat bottom cap as well asan NBC cap for use with a gas mask. The wide mouth nature of the openingallows for easy internal cleaning of the canteen.

2. Background of the Prior Art

Beginning in the 1960s, the M1961 canteen, replacing the M1910 canteen,and has been a staple item of equipment issued to U.S. militarypersonnel. The M1961 is a polyethylene plastic canteen that iskidney-shaped and fits into a correspondingly shaped drinking cup, andtypically holds one quart of water. The M1961 is held via a MOLLE nyloncanteen carrier with the kidney shape of the M1961 (either alone ornested within the drinking cup) contouring to approximately match thecontour of the carrier's body. Based on knowledge gathered from the warsfought by the U.S. military in the hot dry climates of Southwest Asiaand with advances in the medical understanding of military hydrationrequirements, new approaches to military hydration have been introduced.However, the M1961 canteen, or a derivation thereof, are still inwidespread use by various military units including many specialoperations units.

The M1961 and its derivations are versatile, lightweight, easy to carry,and easy to fill with liquid and thereafter dispense liquid therefrom.However, a prime complaint often issued from users of the M1961 is therelative difficulty of being able to deeply clean the canteen, thisbeing due to the relatively narrow diameter of the neck of the canteen,such diameter typically being 28 millimeters. Although, an appropriatecleaning solution, such as dishwashing detergent, can be poured into thecanteen, swished around, and then discarded, many users desire to cleanthe canteen more thoroughly, especially in the crevices of the canteen,in order to rid the interior of the canteen of any harbored bacteria andvirus for fear that such bacteria and virus can fester and grow andcause gastrointestinal ailments at a most inopportune moment. Such usersresort to the use of flexible narrow width brushes to provide a morethorough cleaning than can be achieved via solution alone. However, assuch a brush can be inserted into the interior of the canteen onlythrough the relatively narrow top spout opening, the use of such a brushis slow, cumbersome, and frustrating, and the ability to be able toproperly and thoroughly brush the entire interior surface of the canteenis improbable at best.

What is needed is an ability to be able to quickly and easily deeplyclean the entire interior surfaces of a M1961 or similar militarycanteen without the need for special tools or special skills and withoutthe need to resort to harsh chemical detergents and without thefrustration of using narrow brushes inserted through the relativelynarrow spout opening. Such an ability to clean the canteen must beprovided without the need to change the overall kidney shape of theM1961 canteen (the M1961 shape).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The wide mouth opening military canteen with a nuclear, biological,chemical gas mask (hereinafter “NBC) adapter of the present inventionaddresses the aforementioned needs in the art by providing a militarycanteen that is essentially an M1961 or derivative canteen that has awide mouth opening so as to permit a user to be able to easily accessessentially the entire interior surface of the canteen so that a deepand thorough cleaning of the canteen, using appropriate mechanicalimplements, can be performed. The wide mouth opening military canteenwith NBC adapter allows the canteen to be used in normal fashionincluding retaining the ease with which liquid is introduced into anddischarged from the canteen and including the retention of the typicalkidney shape so that the wide mouth opening military canteen with NBCadapter can be carried in normal fashion by military personnel. An NBCadapter is threadably attached to the wide mouth opening militarycanteen with NBC adapter in order to allow the canteen to be used with agas mask. The wide mouth opening military canteen with NBC adapter is ofrelatively simple design and construction, being produced using standardmanufacturing techniques.

The wide mouth opening military canteen with NBC adapter of the presentinvention is comprised of a canteen body that has a main body with a setof shoulders that extend into a neck portion with a round open top thatis of a wide mouth dimension. Threading encircles an outer surface ofthe neck portion proximate the open top. A first cap is threadablyattached to the neck portion via the threading on the neck andcorresponding threading on an inner surface of the first cap. The firstcap has an essentially flat bottom surface and a top surface. The firstcap seals the open top of the canteen whenever the first cap is attachedto the neck portion. A second cap has a cap body which is threadablyattached to the neck portion via the threading on the neck andcorresponding threading on an inner surface of the cap body. The secondcap also has an NBC adapter extending upwardly from the cap body. Thesecond cap is attached to the neck portion whenever the first cap is notattached to the neck portion so that the second cap seals the open topwhenever the second cap is so attached to the neck portion. The canteenbody may be made from plastic, although metal and other sutiablematerials may also be used. The canteen body is kidney shaped indeedM1961 shaped. A lanyard is provided such that the lanyard has a firstring and a second ring joined to the first ring by a flexible connector.The first ring is positioned in encircling relationship with the neckportion of the canteen and positioned between the shoulders and thefirst cap whenever the first cap is attached to the neck portion andwith the second ring frictionally engaged with a raised portion locatedon the top surface of the first cap. The first ring is positioned inencircling relationship with the neck portion of the canteen andpositioned between the shoulders and the second cap whenever the secondcap is attached to the neck portion and with the second ring encirclingthe NBC adapter and positioned between the cap body and an annular lipencircling the NBC adapter.

The present wide mouth opening military canteen with NBC adapter, bybeing kidney shaped, has the versatility to continue to work with themetal drinking cup into which the wide mouth opening military canteenwith NBC adapter may nest.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the wide mouth opening military canteenwith NBC adapter of the present invention having a standard flat bottomcap threadably attached to the neck of the opening.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the wide mouth opening military canteenwith NBC adapter having a cap with an NBC adapter thereon, threadablyattached to the neck of the opening.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view, partially cut away, of the wide mouthopening military canteen with NBC adapter, illustrating both caps usablewith the canteen.

Similar reference numerals refer to similar parts throughout the severalviews of the drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to the drawings, it is seen that the wide mouth openingmilitary canteen with NBC adapter of the present invention, generallydenoted by reference numeral 10, is comprised of a canteen body 12 thathas shoulders 14 from which a neck 16 extends upwardly, the neck 16having threading 18 encircling an outer surface thereof, the neck 16terminating at an opening 20. As seen, the opening 20 is a wide mouthopening which is defined as an opening having an inside diameter of atleast 43 millimeters. The inside diameter of the entire length of theneck 16 is at least as wide as the inside diameter of the neck 16 at theopening 20 in order to allow easy internal access into the canteen body12 for cleaning.

A first cap 22 is threadably attached to the neck 16 by engaginginternal threading 24 within the first cap 22 with the threading 18 onthe neck 16. The first cap 22 screws onto the neck 16 of the canteenbody 12 in order to close and seal the opening 20 in order to maintainthe canteen essentially liquid tight. As seen, the first cap 22 is awide configuration cap with a flat bottom 26 and a top 28 such that acentrally disposed circular raised portion 30 is located on the top 28of the first cap 22.

As seen, a second cap 32 has a cap body 34 with internal threading 36thereon and an NBC adapter 38 for plugging into a gas mask (notillustrated) extending upwardly from the body portion 34. The second cap32 screws onto the neck 16 of the canteen body 12 by having thethreading 36 of the cap body 34 threadably engage the threading 16 onthe neck 16 of the canteen body 12 in order to close and seal theopening 20 in order to maintain the canteen essentially liquid tight. Aprotective NBC cap 40 is threadably attachable to external threading 42located on the NBC adapter 38 in order to protect the NBC adapter 38,the protective cap 40 removed therefrom prior to NBC adapter 38 use. Asseen, an annular lip 44 encircles the NBC adapter 38 between theexternal threading 42 of the NBC adapter 38 and the cap body 34.

A lanyard 46 is provided and has a first ring 48 and a smaller secondring 50 joined by a flexible connector 52. Whenever the first cap 22 isattached to the neck 16 of the canteen body 12, the first ring 48 ispositioned in encircling engagement with the neck 16 below the neck'sthreading 18 so that when the first cap 22 is screwed onto the neck 16,the first ring 48 is pressed between the shoulders 14 of the canteenbody 12 and the first cap 22. The second ring 50 may be placed into astowed position by having the second ring 50 encircle the raised portion30 of the first cap 22. The raised portion 30 of the first cap 22 andthe inside diameter of the second ring 50 are dimensioned so as to allowthe second ring 50 to be friction held in encircling engagement with theraised portion 30.

Similarly, whenever the second cap 32 is attached to the neck 16 of thecanteen body 12, the first ring 48 is positioned in encirclingengagement with the neck 16 below the neck's threading 18 so that whenthe cap body 34 of the second cap 32 is screwed onto the neck 16, thefirst ring 48 is pressed between the shoulders 14 of the canteen body 12and the second cap 32. The second ring 50 may be placed into a stowedposition by having the second ring 50 encircle the NBC adapter 38 andpressed against the upper surface of the cap body 34. In such aposition, the second ring 50 passes over the annular lip 44 of the NBCadapter 38, the outer diameter of the annular lip 44 being very slightlysmaller than the inner diameter of the second ring 50 so as to requirethe second ring 50 to be pressed pass the annular ring 44 with a bit ofeffort on the user's part so that the annular ring 44 helps hold thesecond ring 50 in stowed position during normal device use.

Of course, the second ring 50 can be removed from its stowed positionwith respect to either the first cap 22 or the second cap 32 and used asdesired—for example, attached to a belt of a user via a carabineer.

The canteen body 12 is made from an appropriate sturdy material such asplastic or metal with the first cap 22 made from the same or similarmaterial. The main portions of the second cap 32 (cap body 34 and outershell of the NBC adapter 38) can also be made from the same or similarmaterial as the canteen body 12. The lanyard 46 is made from anappropriate flexible material such as plastic.

Referring to one particular embodiment of the present invention, acomparison between the most commonly available canteen, and theparticular embodiment of the invention will explain how the inventioncan serve the same function as the common canteen, while offering theadvantage of a lower profile.

The fluid reservoir on the most commonly-used prior art canteen has abottom dimension of approximately 4⅛″, more or less. The shape of thisreservoir is such that, looking at the front of the canteen (bottomdown, opening up), the left and right sides of the canteen extend upwardat an angle, becoming wider as they extend further from the bottom. Atapproximately 4 1/16″ from the bottom of the prior art canteen, the leftand right sides reverse direction, and begin to curve inward gradually,making the width narrower, as they approach the bottom of the neck,which point is approximately 6⅜″ from the bottom. This common prior artcanteen holds a nominal volume of 32 ounces in the fluid reservoir, withan overall height (minus the cap) of approximately 8 1/16″.

The fluid reservoir of one embodiment of the invention has a bottomapproximately the same as the common canteen, 4⅛″, more or less, andfollows the same general profile as the common canteen up to and beyondthe 4 1/16″ point. This is specifically to accommodate the use of theinvention with the existing accessories (such as the metal cup) thathelp make the existing canteen more useful. But, unlike the shape of theprior art canteen, the left and right sides of the invention continue toproceed outward to the point of approximately 4⅝″ from the bottom,making the area from the 4 1/16″ point to the 4⅝″ point wider than thatsame area on the common canteen. Then, again unlike the common canteen,the left and right side profiles turn sharply and proceed directlyinward at an almost horizontal direction, to the bottom of the neck,which point is approximately 5⅝″ from the bottom of the invention. Theresulting extra width of the invention, from the 4 1/16″ point to the5⅝″ point, allows the invention to hold the same 32 ounces of water asthe common canteen, but at a much lower overall height. Like the mostcommonly used canteen, the invention also holds a nominal volume of the32 ounces in the fluid reservoir, but has an overall approximate height(minus the cap) of only 6⅜″.

By this comparison, it can be seen that the reduction in height offersobvious advantages in the use, carrying, or storage of this canteen,while serving the same purpose as a reservoir for a nominal 32 ounces ofwater. These advantages are in addition to others offered by theinvention, and described elsewhere.

While the invention has been particularly shown and described withreference to embodiments thereof, it will be appreciated by thoseskilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be madewithout departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:
 1. A wide mouth opening canteen comprising, in combination acanteen body having a main body with a set of shoulders extending into aneck portion with a round open top that is of a wide mouth dimension,the neck portion having threading encircling an outer surface of theneck portion proximate the open top; a first cap threadably attached tothe neck portion via the threading on the neck portion, the first caphaving a flat bottom surface and a top surface, the first cap sealingthe open top whenever the first cap is attached to the neck portion; anda second cap having a cap body, the cap body threadably attached to theneck portion via the threading on the neck portion, the second cap alsohaving an NBC adapter extending upwardly from the cap body, the secondcap attached to the neck portion whenever the first cap is not attachedto the neck portion, and the second cap sealing the open top wheneverthe second cap is attached to the neck portion.
 2. The wide mouthopening canteen as in claim 1 wherein the canteen body is made fromplastic.
 3. The wide mouth opening canteen as in claim 2 wherein thecanteen body is kidney shaped.
 4. The wide mouth opening canteen as inclaim 2 wherein the canteen body is M1961 shaped.
 5. The wide mouthopening canteen as in claim 1 wherein the canteen body is kidney shaped.6. The wide mouth opening canteen as in claim 1 wherein the canteen bodyis M1961 shaped.
 7. The wide mouth opening canteen as in claim 1 furthercomprising a lanyard, the lanyard having a first ring and a second ringjoined to the first ring by a flexible connector, the first ringpositioned in encircling relationship with the neck portion of thecanteen and positioned between the shoulders and the first cap wheneverthe first cap is attached to the neck portion and with the second ringfrictionally engaged with a raised portion located on the top surface ofthe first cap, and such that the first ring positioned in encirclingrelationship with the neck portion of the canteen and positioned betweenthe shoulders and the second cap whenever the second cap is attached tothe neck portion and with the second ring encircling the NBC adapter andpositioned between the cap body and an annular lip encircling the NBCadapter.